Operating device with gate shafts

Abstract

An actuating device for a gear shifting transmission. The actuating device includes a selector lever which has stable selector lever positions, and a detent mechanism with a detent element and notched gate, the detent element is connected to the selector lever. The notched gate is disposed on a gate shaft that rotates when actuated. The gate shaft includes at least one helical return groove for the detent element. Due to rotation of the gate shaft, the detent element can be transferred from a start position, along the return groove, into a target position. The selector lever position always reflects the actual gear stage of the transmission, even with shift-by-wire-controlled gear shifting transmissions. The driver is provided with reliable visual and tactile feedback about the gear state of the transmission. The actuating device is structurally reliable, has low energy consumption, produces minimal noise, and requires minimal construction space.

Description

[0001]This application is a National Stage completion of PCT / DE2008 / 050035 filed Dec. 4, 2008, which claims priority from German patent application serial no. 10 2007 058 922.2 filed Dec. 5, 2007.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to an actuating device for a gear shifting transmission, e.g. for an automatic transmission having shift-by-wire actuation.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Gear shifting transmissions of motor vehicles are usually controlled or shifted using an actuating device disposed within reach of the driver. Actuating elements such as shift levers or selector levers are used customarily for this purpose, and are disposed between the front seats of the motor vehicle, for example.[0004]The structural and ergonomic requirements on actuating devices of this type for gear shifting transmissions are diverse. For example, to provide the driver with a realistic feel for the actuation of the transmission for reasons of safety and ergonomics, a requirement of ac...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]Proceeding from this background, the problem addressed by the present invention is therefore that of creating an actuating device for a gear shifting transmission, with which the stated disadvantages found in the prior art can be overcome. The purpose of the invention is to make it possible for the selector lever position to always reflect the actual gear state of the transmission, even with shift-by-wire-controlled gear shifting transmissions, whereby reliable visual and tactile feedback about the actual gear state of the transmission can be realized. In particular, in the case that the parking lock has been automatically engaged (“Auto-P”), it must be prevented that the selector lever misleadingly remains in one of the gear selection positions or in the tip gate even though the transmission is actually engaged in the parking lock.

Problems solved by technology

However, when gears are shifted electrically, which is becoming increasingly more common, that is, when gear shifting transmissions are actuated using shift-by-wire controls, the selector lever in the passenger compartment and the motor vehicle transmission in the engine compartment are usually not mechanically coupled.

In shift-by-wire gear shifting transmissions, however, the absence of a mechanical connection between the transmission actuator system and the selector lever can, under certain basic conditions, lead to the selector lever position no longer coinciding with the gear state of the transmission.

When a monostable selector lever is utilized, however, the driver is unable to obtain visual or haptic feedback about the gear state of the transmission based on the position of the selector lever.

Furthermore, the implementation of the mechanical shift logic and the necessary shift interlocks—such as the so-called “key lock” and “shift lock” interlocks, for example—in monostable selector levers is often complex and requires a complicated actuator system to selectively block impermissible shift commands depending on the driving condition of the motor vehicle; this is structurally complex and correspondingly costly.

The known monostable actuating devices also have the disadvantage that the driver must become familiar with a new operating concept that includes a lever that always aims to return to the center position, wherein this operating concept differs considerably from traditional transmission actuation using stable selector lever positions.

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